Multiposition lock-rock rocker and rocking type reclining chair

ABSTRACT

A mechanism incorporated into a platform rocker which enables the rocker to be employed as a conventional platform rocker, as a platform rocker with a multi-position lock, as a reclining chair and as a rocking reclining chair with the lock for the rocking action being manually actuated by lateral movement of a levertype handle to lock the chair in multiple positions of tilt. The leg rest structure is also manually actuated by the same lever being operable in a fore and aft direction. An arc slide interconnects the chair seat and chair backrest in which the seat is not movable longitudinally and fixed to pivot at the front to retain optimum balance conditions in all positions of the chair structure.

United States Patent Van Surksum MULTIPOSITION LOCK-ROCK [451 Oct. 10,1972 3 Primary ExaminerJames C. Mitchell Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien andHarvey B. Jacob- Son [57] ABSTRACT A mechanism incorporated into aplatform rocker which enables the rocker to be employed as aconventional platform rocker, as a platform rocker with a multi-positionlook, as a reclining chair and as a rocking reclining chair with thelock for the rocking action being manually actuated by lateral movementof a lever-type handle to lock the chair in multiple positions of tilt.The leg rest structure is also manually actuated by the same lever beingoperable in a fore and aft direction. An arc slide interconnects thechair seat and chair backrest in which the seat is not movablelongitudinally and fixed to pivot at the front to retain optimum balanceconditions in all positions of the chair structure.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ROCKER AND ROCKING TYP RECLINING CHAIR [72]Inventor: Edwin J. Van Surksum, Omaha,

Nebr.

[73] Assignee: Mastercrait Furniture Corporation [22] Filed: April 3,1970 l [21] Appl. No.: 25,509

[52] US. Cl ..297/269 [51] Int. Cl ..A47c 3/02 [58] Field of Search..297/269, 270, 316, 317, 319, 297/DIG. 7

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,096,121 I 7/1963 Knabushet al.. ..297/269 2,797,737 7/1957 Burton .'..297/269 1,045,599 11/1912Ostendorf ......297/3 l9 r ""T 4'0 I4? I46 I" l I c: =l ll 1 2 /72- T L-l54 r a I I 1 l l i 2 I I L. HE

PATENIEDnm 1 0 I972 SHEEI 2 OF 4 Edmh J. Van Surksum INVENTOR. 405% WWM0,

PATENTEDncI 10 m2 SHEET 3 [IF 4 Edwin J. VanSur/rsum 1N VENT 0R BY andPATENTEDB H 3.691.132

SHEET u 0F 4 MULTIPOSITION LOCK-ROCK ROCKER AND ROCKING TYPE RECLININGCHAIR The present invention generally relates to a chair structure inthe form of a platform rocker having a locking mechanism enabling thechair to be locked in a plurality of positions with the chair structurealso including mechanism enabling the chair to be employed as a rockingtype reclining chair.

An object of the present invention is to provide a chair construction inthe form of a platform rocker and rocker recliner which employs amanually actuated extendable and retractable leg rest assembly and amanually actuatable locking assembly for locking the rocker in varioustilted positions with a single lever in the form of a handle beingemployed to actuate the leg rest and locking mechanism by manipulatingthe handle in a particular manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair in accordance withthe preceding object in which the chair back and chair seat areinterconnected by an arcuate slide mechanism which enables relativemovement between the chair back and chair seat so that the chair backand seat will assume a reclining position when appropriate pressure isapplied to the backrest by the occupant of the chair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rocker-recliner chairin which the rocking action may be locked or not completely independentof the extension of the legrest and completely independent of theposition of the backrest which is permitted inasmuch as the rockerrecliner remains substantially correctly balanced in its variouspositions since the chair seat does not move the weight of the bodyforwardly or rearwardly to an unbalanced position thus providing abalanced rocker-recliner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a chair structure inaccordance with the preceding objects in which the arc slide used forthe floating back recline includes adjustable components to compensatefor wear with the arc slide serving to stabilize the back in adjustedposition and particularly in upright position with the occupant desiringto recline merely lifting his body weight slightly for reducing thefriction holding action on the arc slide so that with a slight pushagainst the back, the arc slide releases and moves or floats to adesired position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a chair structurewhich is relatively simple in construction, dependable in operation,effective for providing the desired movement as well as comfort to theoccupant and capable of incorporation into various chair designs andconstructions.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the chair structure of the present inventionwith the upholstery illustrated in broken lines to show the structuralrelationship of the components of the mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken along section line 2-2 ofFIG. 1 illustrating the mechanism oriented with the leg rest extended,the rocker locked in position and the back in reclined position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the structurein the retracted position with the locking mechanism in adifferentlocking position.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the locking mechanism illustratingthe movement of the locking lever.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the chair structure.

1 FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lock for the rocking mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the arc slide interconnecting the chairseat and back.

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 8-8 of FIG. 7 illustrating further structuraldetails of the arc slide including the adjustment features forcompensating for wear.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the chair structure includesa platform or base generally designated by numeral 10, a rocking framegenerally designated by the numeral 12, a leg rest assembly generallydesignated by the numeral 14, a locking assembly generally designated bythe numeral 16 and an arcuate slide assembly generally designated by thenumeral 18 which interconnects the rocking frame 12 or the seat thereonand a back or backrest.

The supporting base or platform 10 includes a pair of substantiallyparallel side members 20 rigidly interconnected by a transverse member22 and resting on a floor surface with floor engaging areas 24 orcasters 26 as illustrated at the forward end of a platform. Insofar asthe structure of the present invention is concerned, the supportingplatform may be constructed of any suitable material and any suitableconstruction and supported from the floor surface in any suitable andconventional manner with the upper surface of the platform defined bythe two side members 20 including substantially horizontal andlongitudinally extending parallel supporting surfaces 28 all of which isconventional and well-known in platform rocker structures.

The rocking frame 12 includes a pair of side members 30 which arerigidly interconnected and include an arcuate lower edge 32 in rockingengagement with the surfaces 28 with the arcuate lower edges 32 and theside members 30 also being of conventional structure employed inplatform rockers. interconnecting the rocking assembly 12 and theplatform 10 is a spring assembly 34 which includes an identicalstructure at each side of the chair and which includes a pair of coilcompression springs 36 having the lower ends anchored to a bracketstructure 38 mounted fixedly on the inner surface of the base sidemember 20 and an upper bracket 40 fixed to the inner surface of sidemembers 30 of the rocking mechanism 12 to not only attach the rockingmechanism 12 to the supporting platform 10 but also retain the arcuatesurface 32 in locking engagement with the surfaces 28. Such springassemblies are well known in platform rocker structures and the arcuatesurfaces 32 are also well known and generally referred to as the banana.The side members 30 may be of wood construction or may be of metalconstruction in which event the arcuate surfaces 32 as well as thebracket 40 and the associated rocking mechanism and lock therefore andthe associated arcuate slide mechanism have certain components thereofunitarily constructed with the side members 30.

The lock mechanism 16 includes a pair of substantially Leshaped brackets42 fixedly attached to the inner surface of the side members 20 of thesupporting platform as illustrated in FIG. 6. The brackets 42 eachinclude an upstanding arm 44 extending above the surfaces 28 andterminating in an inclined top edge 46 and being provided with aplurality of upwardly and rearwardly inclined notches 48 extendingdownwardly and inwardly from the rear edge of the arm 44 of the bracket42. The notches 48 are equally spaced along the length of the portion ofthe bracket arm 44 which extends above the surface 28.

An elongated tranversely extending lock bar 50 is mounted on the rockingstructure 12 and includes a pair of horizontally spaced L-shaped legs 52mounted thereon having a forwardly and downwardly extending locking edgeportion 54 which defines the free edge of the leg 52 for engagement withone of the notches 48 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. One edge of theleg 52 is provided with a reinforcing and limit plate 56 which not onlyreinforces the locking leg 52 but also limits the movement of thelocking edge 54 in one direction in relation to the notches 48 in thearm 44 of the locking bracket 42. Thus, when the locking edge or lug 54is moved transversely from a position out of alignment and out ofengagement with the arm 44 of the bracket 42 to a position where thelocking edge or lug 54 engages one of the notches 48, the plate 56 willlimit such movement to assure that the locking lug 54 will be engagedwith the arm 44 of the bracket 42.

The lock bar 50 is slidably supported by virtue of being received inapertures or sockets 58 formed in the side members 30 and the length ofthe movement of the member 50 is only sufficient to register the lockinglug 54 with one of the notches 48 or move the locking lug 54 to aposition alongside of but spaced slightly from the arm 44 of the bracket42.

The locking bar 50 may be preferably constructed of a tubular metalmember which is prevented form rotating due to the square configurationthereof as well as the square configuration of the aperture 58. Variousother structural elements may be employed as long as sufficient rigidityis provided for securely retaining the rocking structure 12 locked inrelation to the platform 10 when the locking mechanism is in engagement.The locking bar 50 is reciprocated transversely of the chair by theprovision of a lug 60 attached to the locking bar 50 and projectingforwardly therefrom. The lug 60 is attached to an elongated rod member62 having some degree of flexibility and being adjustably secured to thelug 60 as by a pair of threaded nuts 64 to enable the effective lengthof the rod 62 to be varied to assure accurate orientation of the lockinglug 54 in relation to the arm 44 on the bracket and to assure engagementof and registration of the locking edge or lug 54 with the notches 48 inthe arm 44. The rod 62 is slidably received in a tubular guide 66extending between the side members 30 of the rocking structure andextends longitudinally of the guide 66 and out from one end thereof asillustrated in FIG. 6. The terminal end of the rod 62 is pivotallyattached to an actuating lever in the form of a handle as designated bythe numeral 68 intermediate the ends thereof with the upper end of thehandle 68 being rounded or otherwise shaped to provide a hand grip 70.The lower end of the lever 68 is pivotally attached to a dependingbracket 72 for pivotal movement about a longitudinal bottom axis 74. Asindicated by the arrow 76 in FIG. 6, the lever 68 is manually swingablelaterally of the chair structure about the longitudinal bottom axis 74from a position alongside of the chair to a position laterally outwardlyinclined thereof as illustrated in broken line. Due to the pivotalconnection between the outer end of the rod 62 and the lever 68 inspaced relation to the axis 74, lateral swinging movement of the lever68 about the axis 74 will cause reciprocation of the rod 62 which hassufficient flexibility to follow the arc of the point of connectionbetween the lever 68 and the rod 62 and to enable lateral deflection ofthe rod 62 so that it can reciprocate in the guide 66 even thoughattached to the lug which is offset from the longitudinal axis of theguide 66. With this construction, lateral swinging movement of thelocking lever 68 by manipulation of the handgrip or handle end willeffectively release the locking mechanism 16 by misaligning the lockinglug 54 with respect to the arm 44 so that no contact will be madebetween the locking lug 54 and the notches 48. When it is desired tolock the rocking structure 12 in a desired tilted position, the handle70 is laterally pivoted thus bringing the locking lug 54 into engagementwith one of the notches 48 thereby providing a multi-position lock forthe rocking structure 12 with the spring structure 34 retaining biaspressure of the locking lug 54 against the bottom surface of the notch48 to retain the locking engagement even though the occupant of thechair may temporarily stand up, and then return to the chair.

The leg rest assembly 14 includes a front padded or cushioned leg rest80 including a backing member or rigid panel 82 having a pair of bracketplates connected thereto and extending therefrom and designated by thenumeral 84. A tuck-under leg rest 86 is disposed outwardly of the legrest 80 when in extended position and includes a backing panel 88 andbrackets 90 which project laterally from the panel 88 with an uppercorner of the bracket 90 being attached to the bracket 84 by a pivotpoint connection 92. The inner corner of the bracket structure 84 ispivotally attached to an elongated lever 94 by pivot point 96 and thelever 94 extends to and is connected to an actuating arm 98 that isfixedly attached to the tubular sleeve or member 66- which extendsthrough the side members 30 and is journalled therein by tubularbearings or the like 102. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the bracket 72 isrigid with the tubular sleeve 66 and thus enables the tubular sleeve 66to be rotated about its longitudinal axis thus swinging the arms 98 inan arcuated manner to actuate the leg rest assembly 14. Thus, byrotating the handle end or handgrip 70 of the lever 68 about atransverse axis defined by the tubular sleeve 66, the leg assembly 14may be extended or retracted. FIG. 3 illustrates the handle 70 and lever68 in the position in which the leg rest is retracted and by graspingthe handle 70 and moving it rearwardly of the chair, the leg restassembly may be extended to the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

Pivotally attached to the side members 30 forwardly of the sleeve 66 isa link 100 which has the outer end thereof pivotally attached to thelever 94 at an angulated portion thereof as indicated by numeral 102.Connected to the link 100 intermediate the ends thereof is a link 104that is pivotally connected to the link 100 by a pivot point 106.Connected to the outer end of the link 104 is a lever 108 having apivotal connection with link 104 at point 110 and pivotal connectionwith the lever 94 at point 1 12. The outer end of the lever 108 isattached to an angulated link 114 by pivot point 116 with the centralportion of the lever 114 being supported pivotally from the bracket 84by a pivot point 118. The outer end of the lever 114 is connected to thelower corner of the bracket 90 by a link 120 which is pivotally attachedto the lever l 14 at pivot point 122 and pivotallyattached to thebracket 90 by pivot point 124 thus mechanically interconnecting thestructure of the leg rest so that the leg rest will be retracted duringdownward swinging movement of the arms 98 connected with the sleeve 66as handle 70 is pivoted upwardly.

A wire spring assembly 126 has one offset end thereof engaged with thearm 98 and extends downwardly to a coil loop 128 with the spring thenextending upwardly from the loop in an arm fixedly attached to the frontseat supporting frame structure 130. As illustrated in FIG. 1, thetuck-under leg rest 86 is shorter than the leg rest 80 and isdimensioned so that it will be disposed inwardly of the various linksand levers when collapsedso that the structure will be movable betweenthe positions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the leg rest 80 extendedand the tuck-in leg rest 86 forming an extension thereof or with the legrest 80 being generally vertically disposed forwardly of the chair andbelow the seat cushion and the tuck-under leg rest 86 being disposedbelow the seat frame 130. The wire spring 126 provides a semiover-center lock of the leg rest in'both the closed and open positionsdue to over-center movement of the pivot points. The link 104 may beprovided with a notch 134 to receive the transverse sleeve when inretracted condition.

The seat frame 130 is in the form of a tubular frame having the frontmember thereof pivotally attached to the side members 30 and forming apivot axis for the seat structure including the cushion 136 which hasbeen schematically illustrated. The specific supporting structure forthe seat cushion and the specific configuration of the seat cushion mayvary depending upon the type of chair structure desired. However, theseat frame 130 is supported from the side members 30.for pivotalmovement about a transverse axis at the forward edge of the seat frame.At the rear of the side members 30 and along the sides thereof, armrests 138 may be provided and extending upwardly from the rear of theseat, a back rest 140 is provided which includes the usual structuralmembers, cushioning material, upholstery and the like with the backrest140 being pivotally supported for pivotal movement about a transverseaxis 142. The axis 142 is retained in position by supporting bracketstructure 144 rigid with the side members 30 and being either attachedthereto or integral therewith. The two side members 146 which form apart of the seat support frame 130 and which pivot about the front axisdefined by the front member of the frame are rigidly connected to aninclined member 148 as by. welding 150. The inclined member 148 has adepending lower end 152 that is pivotally connected to the side members30 by a pivot rod or shaft 154. The upper end of the member 148 isoffset at 156 and extending between the offset ends 152 and 156 is anarcuate slide or guide 158 which is in the form of a pair of spacedmembers 160 as illustrated in FIG. 8. Slidable on the arcuate slide 158is a slide block 162 which includes an inner member 164 and an outermember 166 which have recesses 168 therein receiving the two arcuateguides 160 and frictionally engaging the .opposed surfaces thereof. Theinner and outer members 164 and 166 are assembled by clamp bolts 170which clamp the inner and outer members 164 and 166 into frictionalsliding engagement with the guide members 160 on the arc slide 158thereby providing frictional engagement and compensating for wear of thefrictionally engaged surfaces. As illustrated, the bolts 170 have theheads thereof countersunk but they may be of conventional constructionso that access may be had thereto from the rear bottom of the chair toenable the bolts to be tightened to compensate for wear.

Attached to the sliding block 162 and specifically to the outer member166 is a shaft or rod 172 having one end of an angulated angle ironmember 174 rigidly affixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom withthe other end of the angulated member 174 being pivotally connected withthe transverse shaft defining the pivot point 142 for the backrest 140as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom edge of the upper portion of theangulated member 174 engages the connection between the offset endportion 156 and the arcuate guide 158 to limit the pivot movement of thebackrest 140. In addition, the angular movement of the member 174 issuch that it swings rigidly with the backrest 140 and thus moves theblock 162 downwardly along the arc slide 158 thus pivoting the arc slide158 upwardly about pivot shaft 154 thus elevating slightly the rear endof the seat frame 130 thus slightly elevating the rear portion of theseat.

This construction provides a lock for the rocking mechanism which istotally independent of the leg rest extension which provides a manualmultiple position (fully illustrated) lock which completely preventsrocking movement when locked. Thus, the occupant of the chair hascomplete control and selection as to when he will use the lockingmechanism for the rocker. For example, the lock-rock may be'activatedbefore the leg rest is extended or after the leg rest is extended. Inaddition, the occupant may decide not to use the lockrock at all whichis a capability with this construction and is not a capability ofprevious known devices where the lock-rock is actuated automaticallywhen the leg rest is extended.

The rocker-recliner remains relative correctly balanced because the seatstructure does not move the weight of the body to an unbalancedposition. In certain known rocker-recliner structures, the body weightmoves forward and in view of this unbalanced condition, blocking of therock mechanism is necessary at the front. On other types ofrocker-recliners, the body weight moves rearward therefore blocking ofthe rock takes place at the rear of the rock. In the present balancedrocker recliner there is a definite lock structure rather than only ablocking structure and the locking structure is manually actuated andselectively actuated at the desires of the occupant of therockerrecliner.

While lateral lever movement has been illustrated, it is clearlypossible to employ other means for actuating the lock-rock mechanismsuch as a push-pull knob associated with the leg rest extension lever ina suitable manner or a twist-type lever or knob assembly associated withthe leg rest extension lever as long as the lock-rock mechanism in theform of the lugs 54 are engaged with the arms or latches 44 that arerigid with the platform.

The arc slide provides for floating back recline and is adjustable tocompensate for wear. With this type of floating recline, the slide is upat an angle great enough to the seat pivot to form a stable lock inupright rocking position. To use the back recline, the occupant only hasto lift his body weight slightly thus reducing the friction holding theslide in place. Then with a slight push of the back, the arc slide blockreleases and floats to a desired position.

With this construction, the rocker-recliner may be oriented in a fullrecline or partial recline and either employed as a rocker recliner oras a recliner only by manually actuating the lock rock. This structureenables more variations of use of the chair thus increasing the benefitsand comfort obtained from the chair by an occupant thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A chair structure comprising a supporting base, a rocking structuresupported on said base for to and fro rocking movement with the rockingstructure including a seat and backrest associated in a manner forreceiving an occupant, and manually actuated locking meansinterconnecting the base and rocking structure for selectivelypreventing rocking movement of the rocking structure in relation to thebase, said locking means including a laterally movable lock devicecarried by said rocking structure, handle means operatively associatedwith the lock device and accessible to an occupant of the rockingstructure to enable the occupant to selectively actuate the lock device,said lock device being in the form of a transversely extending memberslidably supported from the rocking structure for lateral movement, apair of locking lugs on said member, said base including upstandingcatch members attached thereto, said catch members having a plurality ofvertically spaced notches therein receiving said, lugs when the lugs arelaterally moved into engagement therewith thereby enabling selectiveactuation of the locking lugs and selective adjustment of the tiltedposition of the rocking structure when the lugs are engaged withselected notches at a selected elevation thereby enabling adjustment ofthe locked position of the rocking structure, and an extensible leg restassembly mounted at the forward edge of the rocking structure forextension into a leg rest position and retraction into a storedposition, said leg rest assembly including a transversely extendingshaft on the rocking structure, said shaft being rockable about atransverse axis extending across the rocking structure for extending andretracting the leg rest assembly, said shaft being connected with thehandle means accessible to the occupant of the chair, said shaft beinghollow and receiving an actuating rod for the transversely movable lockmember, said rod being connected to the handle means with the rod andlock member being reciprocated in response to lateral movement of thehandle means while rocking movement of the shaft is accomplished byforward and rearward pivotal movement of the handle means therebyproviding a single handle means for manually operating the leg restassembly and manually actuating the locking means for the rockingstructure.

2. A chair structure comprising a supporting base, a rocking structuresupported on said base for to and fro rocking movement with the rockingstructure including a seat and backrest associated in a manner forreceiving an occupant, and manually actuated locking meansinterconnecting the base and rocking structure for selectivelypreventing rocking movement of the rocking structure in relation to thebase, said backrest and seat being pivotally interconnected with thepivot axis being spaced upwardly from the point of adjacency between thebackrest and seat, a forwardly and downwardly inclined member rigid withthe backrest and including a slide block pivotally attached to the lowerend thereof, an arcuate slide assembly attached to the seat for pivotalmovement about a transverse axis and including an arcuate guidereceiving the slide block whereby pivotal movement of the backrest willcause the slide block to move along the arcuate guide for pivoting theseat about a pivot axis adjacent its front edge for retaining the seatin the same relative position to the body weight.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said slide block includesa pair of block members, adjustment members interconnecting the blockmembers for tightening them together for compensating for wear duringarcuate movement along the arcuate guides.

4. A chair structure comprising a seat and backrest, means articulatelyinterconnecting the seat and backrest, means pivotally supporting theforward end portion of the seat, said interconnecting means including apivotal connection, an arcuate guide and slide block assemblyinterconnecting the seat and backrest in spaced relation to the pivotalconnection, said block being of split construction and adjustable tocompensate for wear during relative movement between the guide and slideblock.

5. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said locking meansincludes a laterally movable lock device carried by said rockingstructure, handle means operatively associated with the lock device andaccessible to an occupant of the rocking structure to enable theoccupant to selectively actuate the lock device, an extensible leg restassembly mounted at the forward edge of the rocking structure forextension into a leg rest position and retraction into a storedposition, said handle means associated with the lock device also beingassociated with the leg rest assembly for extending and retracting theleg rest assembly independently of actuating the lock device.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said lock device includesa transversely extending member movably supported from the rockingstructure and including a locking lug associated therewith, said baseincluding an upwardly extending catch member associated therewith havingvertically spaced notches for receiving the locking lug to enableselective adjustment of the tilted position of the rocking structure inrelation to the base. v

7. A chair structure comprising a supporting base, a rocking structuresupported on said base for to and fro rocking movement with the rockingstructure including a seat and backrest associated in a manner forreceiving an occupant, and manual actuated locking means interconnectingthe base and rocking structure for selectively preventing rockingmovement of the rocking structure in relation to the base, saidlocking-means including a movable lock device carried by said rockingstructure and a catch member carried by saidbase, handle meansoperatively associated with the lock device and accessible to anoccupant of the rocking structure to enable the occupant to selectivelyactuate the lock device for selective engagement with the catch member,a leg rest assembly carried by said rocking structure for extension intoleg rest position forwardly of the rocking structure and retraction intostored position, said handle means for the lock device also beingoperatively associated with the leg rest assembly for selectiveextension and retraction thereof independent of actuation of the lockdevice.

8. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the backrest and seat areinterconnected, pivot means supporting the lower end of the backrestfrom the rocking structure, pivot means connecting the forward end ofthe seat to the rocking structure and an arcuate sliding interconnectingmeans interconnecting the lower end portion of the backrest and the rearportion of the seat for pivoting the seat about a pivot axis adjacentits front edge for retaining the seat in the same relative position tothe body weight when the backrest is pivoted rearwardly in relation tothe seat.

1. A chair structure comprising a supporting base, a rocking structuresupported on said base for to and fro rocking movement with the rockingstructure including a seat and backrest associated in a manner forreceiving an occupant, and manually actuated locking meansinterconnecting the base and rocking structure for selectivelypreventing rocking movement of the rocking structure in relation to thebase, said locking means including a laterally movable lock devicecarried by said rocking structure, handle means operatively associatedwith the lock device and accessible to an occupant of the rockingstructure to enable the occupant to selectively actuate the lock device,said lock device being in the form of a transversely extending memberslidably supported from the rocking stRucture for lateral movement, apair of locking lugs on said member, said base including upstandingcatch members attached thereto, said catch members having a plurality ofvertically spaced notches therein receiving said lugs when the lugs arelaterally moved into engagement therewith thereby enabling selectiveactuation of the locking lugs and selective adjustment of the tiltedposition of the rocking structure when the lugs are engaged withselected notches at a selected elevation thereby enabling adjustment ofthe locked position of the rocking structure, and an extensible leg restassembly mounted at the forward edge of the rocking structure forextension into a leg rest position and retraction into a storedposition, said leg rest assembly including a transversely extendingshaft on the rocking structure, said shaft being rockable about atransverse axis extending across the rocking structure for extending andretracting the leg rest assembly, said shaft being connected with thehandle means accessible to the occupant of the chair, said shaft beinghollow and receiving an actuating rod for the transversely movable lockmember, said rod being connected to the handle means with the rod andlock member being reciprocated in response to lateral movement of thehandle means while rocking movement of the shaft is accomplished byforward and rearward pivotal movement of the handle means therebyproviding a single handle means for manually operating the leg restassembly and manually actuating the locking means for the rockingstructure.
 2. A chair structure comprising a supporting base, a rockingstructure supported on said base for to and fro rocking movement withthe rocking structure including a seat and backrest associated in amanner for receiving an occupant, and manually actuated locking meansinterconnecting the base and rocking structure for selectivelypreventing rocking movement of the rocking structure in relation to thebase, said backrest and seat being pivotally interconnected with thepivot axis being spaced upwardly from the point of adjacency between thebackrest and seat, a forwardly and downwardly inclined member rigid withthe backrest and including a slide block pivotally attached to the lowerend thereof, an arcuate slide assembly attached to the seat for pivotalmovement about a transverse axis and including an arcuate guidereceiving the slide block whereby pivotal movement of the backrest willcause the slide block to move along the arcuate guide for pivoting theseat about a pivot axis adjacent its front edge for retaining the seatin the same relative position to the body weight.
 3. The structure asdefined in claim 2 wherein said slide block includes a pair of blockmembers, adjustment members interconnecting the block members fortightening them together for compensating for wear during arcuatemovement along the arcuate guides.
 4. A chair structure comprising aseat and backrest, means articulately interconnecting the seat andbackrest, means pivotally supporting the forward end portion of theseat, said interconnecting means including a pivotal connection, anarcuate guide and slide block assembly interconnecting the seat andbackrest in spaced relation to the pivotal connection, said block beingof split construction and adjustable to compensate for wear duringrelative movement between the guide and slide block.
 5. The structure asdefined in claim 2 wherein said locking means includes a laterallymovable lock device carried by said rocking structure, handle meansoperatively associated with the lock device and accessible to anoccupant of the rocking structure to enable the occupant to selectivelyactuate the lock device, an extensible leg rest assembly mounted at theforward edge of the rocking structure for extension into a leg restposition and retraction into a stored position, said handle meansassociated with the lock device also being associated with the leg restassembly for extending and retracting the leg rest assemblyIndependently of actuating the lock device.
 6. The structure as definedin claim 5 wherein said lock device includes a transversely extendingmember movably supported from the rocking structure and including alocking lug associated therewith, said base including an upwardlyextending catch member associated therewith having vertically spacednotches for receiving the locking lug to enable selective adjustment ofthe tilted position of the rocking structure in relation to the base. 7.A chair structure comprising a supporting base, a rocking structuresupported on said base for to and fro rocking movement with the rockingstructure including a seat and backrest associated in a manner forreceiving an occupant, and manual actuated locking means interconnectingthe base and rocking structure for selectively preventing rockingmovement of the rocking structure in relation to the base, said lockingmeans including a movable lock device carried by said rocking structureand a catch member carried by said base, handle means operativelyassociated with the lock device and accessible to an occupant of therocking structure to enable the occupant to selectively actuate the lockdevice for selective engagement with the catch member, a leg restassembly carried by said rocking structure for extension into leg restposition forwardly of the rocking structure and retraction into storedposition, said handle means for the lock device also being operativelyassociated with the leg rest assembly for selective extension andretraction thereof independent of actuation of the lock device.
 8. Thestructure as defined in claim 4 wherein the backrest and seat areinterconnected, pivot means supporting the lower end of the backrestfrom the rocking structure, pivot means connecting the forward end ofthe seat to the rocking structure and an arcuate sliding interconnectingmeans interconnecting the lower end portion of the backrest and the rearportion of the seat for pivoting the seat about a pivot axis adjacentits front edge for retaining the seat in the same relative position tothe body weight when the backrest is pivoted rearwardly in relation tothe seat.